Generation Rx wins best overall third year in a row

While the national recognition for their efforts certainly is nice, members of the Gatton Generation Rx chapter say it is the difference they are able to make in people’s lives that is the real reward.

“It is very humbling to interact with others and hear the stories about how their lives have been saved or their loved ones are still here because of what we are out doing,” said Dawnna Metcalfe, a second-year student pharmacist. “We really work hard to get knowledge out there about safe medication practices for all ages.”

Since its inception, the ETSU Generation Rx chapter has aimed to enhance medication safety and combat the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Members have reached thousands of young people through community outreach presentations and even created a provider toolkit presentation to help educate health care providers about safe prescribing practices.

“We really just try to have as much outreach into the community as possible,” said Megan Ferry, chair of the chapter and a third-year student pharmacist at Gatton. “We go into elementary, middle, and high schools teaching kids about safe medication practices. We attend Remote Area Medical clinics all over this region and other events to conduct naloxone training, and we go into retirement living communities to do safety training with the elderly populations.”

In one academic year alone, Generation Rx members at ETSU partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to create a continuing education program on opioid safety and overdose that has been reviewed by more than 33,000 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and physicians in all 50 states. During that same time period, Generation Rx members conducted nearly 60 events, providing education that reached a total of 101,733 community members, health care providers, student pharmacists and other health care professional students.

For third-year student pharmacist Emily Perez, the mission is a personal one. The native of Montgomery, West Virginia, lost her older sister to an opioid overdose.

“I was in high school when she passed away and it deeply affected me. It made me realize how much these people really need our help and that this is not something you can just ignore,” Perez said. “It also made me aware of how many other people are affected by it, because once you tell your story, you hear everyone else’s stories too.

“That has fueled my passion for a career in pharmacy, because as pharmacists, we have first-line access to patients, and we have the ability to go out in the community and make a difference.”